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Body image satisfaction: a pilot intervention for adolescents in Singapore
Author
Ng, Samantha Shi Ying
Supervisor
Liau, Albert
Abstract
Positive psychology interventions have been found to promote well-being and build resilience against potential adversities in life, and are available in brief forms that are simple, easily completed in minutes, and require minimal resources to implement. The gratitude-based forms of such interventions have been found to be especially helpful in building this character strength of gratitude, which has a strong impact on well-being. This study aimed to extend the use of positive psychology interventions into the area of body image. Poor body image has been linked with negative outcomes such as impaired social functioning, eating disorders, emotional disturbances, and unhealthy weight-management methods. Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to developing body image dissatisfaction, bringing about calls for programmes targeting body image to be developed and implemented from an early age. While such programmes are available, these tend to span over extended periods of time and require much training and monetary resources. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop an intervention programme – the Body Image Satisfaction (BIS)-gratitude intervention – based on the “Three Good Things” activity, a positive psychology intervention involving gratitude. The study also examined the mechanisms through which the intervention might have achieved its results. Forty-four (44) adolescent participants from two classes at a local secondary school were recruited. The classes were randomly assigned to receive either the BIS-gratitude intervention (N = 22) or a control programme (N = 22) over a three-week period. Participants in the BIS-gratitude intervention group completed the intervention activity over two sessions. Participants in the control group completed the control activity over two sessions. Body image satisfaction (body appreciation and body preference) and well-being (positive affect, negative affect, low-arousal positive feelings, gratitude, and life satisfaction) were measured at three points of the study: pre-intervention, post-intervention, and at 1-week follow-up. The study found that at post-intervention, the BIS-gratitude intervention significantly improved body appreciation, positive affect, low-arousal positive feelings, gratitude, and overall life satisfaction. It was also found that through improvements in the level of gratitude in adolescents, positive affect was in turn improved, and low-arousal positive feelings were partially improved. Improvements in body appreciation in turn improved adolescents’ overall life satisfaction, and partially improved their positive affect. The BIS-gratitude intervention did not have any significant effect on the negative affect, current life satisfaction, and prospective life satisfaction of adolescents. At 1-week follow-up, the significant effects of the BIS-gratitude intervention were not sustained. Based on the findings, improvements to sample size, sample type, and intervention design were recommended. Future directions in research also included the application of the BIS-gratitude intervention in a clinical context.
Date Issued
2014
Call Number
BF724.3.B55 Ng
Date Submitted
2014